PISCATAWAY – Jacob Young scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting and Paul Mulcahy made 6-of-7 field goal attempts to tally a career-best 14 points, as Rutgers (10-3, 1-1) defeated Caldwell (6-6) 94-49 Monday evening at the RAC to conclude non-conference play. Undefeated at home, the Scarlet Knights limited the Cougars to 29.1% (16-of-55) shooting, the lowest for an RU opponent since Eastern Michigan was held to a 27.8% (15-of-54) mark on Nov. 19, 2018.

"I like our rotation," said Pikiell. "I think our bench is getting better. I think that's been a really good thing. The guys have come off the bench and given us terrific energy like you saw tonight. I like our defense and I like that we're unique so we can do different things on the defensive ends of the floor."

Young, who also grabbed a career-best eight rebounds, and Mulcahy paced five Scarlet Knights scoring in double figures. Akwasi Yeboah and Montez Mathis both had 11 points, while Ron Harper Jr. added 10. Eleven RU players registered points, including Joey Downes, who had a career-best six on a pair of 3-pointers, and Nick Brooks, who scored the first of his career.

"I like when we have five or six guys in double figures, which we could never do in the past," said Pikiell. "So, we have a lot of different weapons. We're young and we have to keep getting older. We have to stay with the game plan."

For the third consecutive game, Rutgers held the lead for the contest's entirety. The Scarlet Knights jumped-out to a 7-1 advantage, before a 15-point run provided the home squad a 24-8 lead.

A Mulcahy 3-pointer closed the first half scoring and sent RU into the locker room at the midpoint with a 42-23 advantage.

A Yeboah triple and Mathis dunk began the scoring after the break and the advantage remained at 20 points or greater for the remainder. The 45-point margin of victory was the second largest of the season for Rutgers, which defeated Niagara by 47 points at the RAC on Nov. 10.

Rutgers resumes its Big Ten schedule on Friday at Nebraska. The contest will tip-off at 8 p.m. (ET) on BTN with Kevin Kugler and Shon Morris calling the action.

"We have to go on the road and win on the road," said Pikiell. "That's the next step."

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POSTGAME NOTES 

• Rutgers scored a season-high 94 points, its most since also posting 94 at Illinois on Feb. 9, 2019.
• The Scarlet Knights limited Caldwell to 29.1% (16-of-55) shooting, the lowest for an opponent since Eastern Michigan was held to a 27.8% (15-of-54) mark at the RAC on Nov. 19, 2018.
• Five Rutgers players scored in double figures for the first time since five also scored in double digits in a 95-66 win over Drexel at the RAC on Nov. 11, 2018.
• Rutgers is undefeated at home (10-0), when shooting a better percentage than its opponent (8-0), and when limiting foes to less than 60 points (8-0).
• The Scarlet Knights never trailed, signaling the third straight contest they have held the lead for the game's entirety.
• Rutgers made a season-high 10 3-pointers, its most since depositing 14 versus Drexel on Nov. 11, 2018.
• Rutgers has outrebounded its opponent in 12 of 13 games this season.
• Rutgers is 33-4 in non-conference home games under Steve Pikiell.
• Paul Mulcahy posted a career-high 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, his second straight career-best scoring game.
• Jacob Young registered 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting, his third game this season and 12^th of his career scoring in double digits. It marked his second career game with 20 or more points.
• Young grabbed a career-best eight rebounds.
• Myles Johnson grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, his sixth game this season and 10^th of his career with 10 or more boards.
• Akwasi Yeboah scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a 3-of-3 performance from behind the arc, for his seventh double-digit scoring game of the season and 77^th of his career.
• Ron Harper had 10 points, his eighth game scoring in double digits this season and the 18^th of his career.
• Montez Mathis contributed 11 points, his fourth game this season and 17^th of his career scoring in double digits.
• Geo Baker had three steals, his fourth game this season and 15^th of his career with three or more steals.
• Joey Downes scored a career-high six points.
• Nick Brooks scored his first career points.

POSTGAME QUOTES 

Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell 

Opening Statement: "I want to thank everyone for coming out. I want to wish everybody a happy new year. We got guys up and down the floor. I thought we had some good minutes from a lot of guys and we move on with a road game come up and league play starting. So, we're on to the challenges of the Big Ten."
 
On scheduling the game: "You play games for a lot of reasons and there's challenges in every game, not worried about the postseason, just worried about winning games coming back from Christmas. We play in the best league in the country. We play the best schedule in that league. Every year we play the hardest schedule the Big Ten. Good game for us coming back from break, always worried coming back from break all the different things that happen. Get the Christmas out of our system. I really want to thank Caldwell for that date, it's hard to get teams in that date, a lot of teams are into league play already. Coach Corino is one of the best kept secrets really in New Jersey. He's won 580 games. They beat Norfolk State this year. Their court is named after him. He's one of the good guys and good basketball people too, so tip of the hat for those guys to come here. And much respect for him, he's a really good guy and some really good basketball guy too. You can tell they'll win a lot of games in their league. I mean, everyone the country is playing games like this. You come back from break and you get your guys back ready. They had a three and a half, four-day layoff, so it's good to get them up and down the court and try some different matchups. We will be challenged every game for the next 18 as hard as the program can be challenged."
 
On being ready for the resumption of Big Ten play: "We'll see. We'll see. We have to go on the road and win on the road. That's the next step. Yeah, Nebraska, it's going to be tough game, it's always a tough place, I know it's sold out already so tough venue. I think our team is growing. Our defense is getting better. We shared the ball well today, especially in the second half, which I like. So, we're going to prepare well and hopefully stay healthy and go after it."
 
On takeaways from the nonconference section of the schedule: "I like our rotation. I think our bench is getting better. I think that's been a really good thing. The guys have come off the bench and given us terrific energy like you saw today. I like our defense and I like that we're unique so we can do different things on the defensive ends of the floor. I like when we have five or six guys in double figures, which we could never do in the past. So, we have a lot of different weapons. We're young and we have to keep getting older. We have to stay with the game plan. I think we've done a really good job. I think this team is locked into the important parts of winning and stopping the other team and continue that's a good trait for us."
 
On Jacob Young: "It's good for everybody. He did a really good job. Got off to a good start, attacked the rim. Played with smile and some swagger and defensively he's been really good. Tonight, you saw some of the things he could do on that side of the floor too. Paul Mulcahy was good too. I thought we had a lot of guys that were really good in this basketball game and we can keep doing that every night with somebody different, that's a good thing for us."
 
On Joey Downes: "Joey, on the first one he threw it to the basket, I said he was wide open for three. But seriously, Joey is one of the great kids I've coached and he's a straight A student, he's a Dean's List guy, he's involved in the university, he's been great in practice and he's a leader. He does all the great things that you want a basketball player and from great family, so I was really happy for him today and you saw how you know our bench when Nick Brooks scored and Luke Nathan scored, our bench was real happy, that's a really good sign for our basketball program that guys will really enjoy other people's success. Happy for Joey."
 
Caldwell Head Coach Mark Corino
 
On the game: "Obviously I think they're much improved and they're playing very well at this point in time. Defensively they were overwhelming for us. We had trouble obviously, size wise and they beat us on the boards with offensive rebounds, especially early and scored early with points off of our turnovers. They're aggressive defensively. Tonight they shot the ball I think better than they have maybe in a while.  They made 10 threes. If they had a weakness, I believe that was their weakness. But tonight, they made some threes, Jacob Young made a few threes, I think he made more tonight than he did all year coming in. They're a nice club. Our guys were off for a week now. This is our first day back actually. But overall, I'm impressed with Rutgers in the growth of their team. And I know they're going to win some games in that conference."
 
On Rutgers guard play: "Paul Mulcahy is obviously a talented player in the sense that he knows the game. He is an outstanding passer. He'll be good for them as they continue to grow as a program. Obviously, Geo Baker is a solid all-around player. Jacob young today came in and played well. He shot the ball better than he has all year. If they get production like that off the bench from him, I think that'll be a big plus for them."